Dragon Ball Sparking Zero features over 182 characters, making it one of the largest fighting game rosters ever created. Our comprehensive tier list ranks every character based on competitive performance, DP cost efficiency, and the latest September 22, 2025 patch balance changes. The current meta is dominated by transformation characters with instant sparking abilities and those with unique defensive mechanics like Afterimage Strike.
| Character | DP Cost | Tier | Key Strength | Patch Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gogeta (GT) Super Saiyan 4 | 10 | S+ | Instant Sparking, fastest attacks | Unchanged |
| Super Vegito | 8 | S+ | Afterimage Strike on high-cost character | Unchanged |
| Android 19/Dr. Gero | 4 | Broken | No Ki cost on dashes, super armor | Still dominant |
| Jiren Full Power | 9 | S+ | Instant Sparking, Ki blast spam | Unchanged |
| Goku Ultra Instinct | 9 | S+ | Auto-dodge, great stats, healing | Unchanged |
Our tier list is compiled from analysis of five major sources (Game8, IGN, EventHubs, GenshinLab, and tournament player data) and verified against official patch notes. Characters are evaluated based on:
Contents
The latest patch significantly affected character balance:
These characters dominate the competitive scene and are often banned in tournaments due to their overpowered mechanics.
Why They're Broken: These characters completely break the game's Ki management system. Their Ki gauges don't diminish beyond a certain point, allowing infinite Ki blast spam and endless Dragon Dashes without resource management. Combined with their False Courage skill granting super armor, they can out-trade any character in melee combat while maintaining perfect defensive positioning.
Tournament Status: Universally banned in competitive play due to removing strategic depth from matches.
September Patch Impact: Unaffected by recent balance changes, maintaining their broken status.
These characters represent the pinnacle of balanced competitive play, offering exceptional performance without being game-breaking.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: Primary anchor character for DP teams and dominant single-battle pick. His ability to instantly access Sparking Mode combined with auto-dodge capabilities makes him nearly impossible to approach safely.
Team Building: Best used as team anchor due to high DP cost, but worth every point for his game-changing presence.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: The definition of an S-tier character. Afterimage Strike makes him immune to almost everything for several seconds, and having this on an 8-DP character with great stats creates an unfair advantage.
September Patch Impact: Unchanged, remains top-tier pick.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: Specialized counter-pick against Afterimage Strike reliant teams while being a standalone powerhouse. His ability to spam Ki blasts during Sparking Mode makes him uniquely suited to deal with defensive characters.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: Versatile powerhouse that excels in both offensive and defensive playstyles. The auto-dodge mechanic creates a unique defensive layer that few characters can overcome.
September Patch Impact: Health recovery on transformation removed, but permanent attack buff added, netting similar effectiveness.
These characters are strong competitive picks that may not be S-tier but offer excellent performance in the right hands or team compositions.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: Excellent value in DP battles due to transformation efficiency. Provides high-tier performance at a reasonable cost investment.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: The ultimate transformation value. Start with 5 DP Broly, transform to 9 DP legendary form for only 3 skill stocks, getting a top-tier character at minimal cost.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: Premium defensive character with auto-dodge mechanics. While expensive at 10 DP, his unique abilities make him worth the investment in certain team compositions.
September Patch Impact: "Overture to Destruction" blast adjusted to be less likely to hit opponents directly above or below, slight nerf but still S-tier worthy.
Strengths:
Competitive Role: High-cost anchor character with exceptional durability and offensive capabilities. His unblockable ultimate makes him a constant threat.
These characters are viable in competitive play but require more specific team support or matchup knowledge to excel.
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Struggles against characters with strong defensive tools
Team Role: Solid mid-tier character that can perform well with proper support
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Lacks defensive tools compared to S-tier characters
Team Role: Offensive character that benefits from team defensive support
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Requires high skill ceiling to maximize effectiveness
Team Role: Technical character that rewards skilled play
These characters can work in specific situations or with dedicated team support but generally struggle against higher-tier characters.
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Lacks offensive pressure compared to higher tiers
Team Role: Defensive support character
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Individual performance lacking
Team Role: Synergy-based team composition
Strengths:
Weaknesses: High risk, high reward playstyle
Team Role: High-risk tech character
These characters struggle significantly in competitive play and should generally be avoided unless for specific challenges or personal preference.
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Extremely weak individual performance
September Patch Impact: Previously considered broken due to healing, now significantly nerfed
Team Role: Budget filler character only
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Virtually no competitive viability
Team Role: Challenge/troll character only
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Extremely low damage output
Team Role: Niche technical character
The November 2025patch has shifted the meta significantly:
Based on competitive community consensus, the following characters are typically banned:
Characters showing increased tournament success:
Optimal Sparking Usage: Save Sparking Mode for critical moments as Gogeta can already access it instantly. Use it to extend combos or secure kills.
Defense Mastery: Wild Sense automatically dodges the first melee attack. Use this knowledge to bait opponents into wasting their opening moves.
Combo Routes:
Matchup Knowledge: Excels against rush-down characters, struggles against dedicated zoners with strong defensive tools.
Best Teammates: Characters who can cover his weaknesses (zoners, characters with strong ultimate attacks)
Afterimage Strike Timing: Use Afterimage Strike to:
DP Management: At 8 DP, he's expensive but worth it. Build teams around him with budget support characters (2-3 DP range).
Infinite Dash Strategy: Since Ki doesn't deplete, use constant Dragon Dashes to:
Super Armor Usage: False Courage gives super armor. Use it to:
Note: While these characters are broken, using them in casual play may negatively impact the enjoyment of both players.
Structure: 10 DP anchor + 8 DP secondary + 2-3 DP support
Example: Gogeta (GT) SS4 (10) + Super Vegito (8) + Yajirobe (2)
Strengths: Maximum power in late-game scenarios
Weaknesses: Vulnerable early-game, less flexible
Structure: 8-9 DP main + 5-6 DP secondary + 3-4 DP support
Example: Goku Black Rose (8) + Broly (Z) (5) + Piccolo (3)
Strengths: Good balance of power and flexibility
Weaknesses: No overwhelming power spike
Structure: Multiple transformation characters with low base DP
Example: Broly (Z) (5) + Goku Black (5) + Frieza (4)
Strengths: High potential power, flexible resource management
Weaknesses: Requires skill stock management
For players with limited DP resources or those preferring strategic depth over raw power:
Option 1: Broly (Z) (5) + Goku Black (5) + Captain Ginyu (3) = 13 DP
Option 2: Piccolo Fused (5) + Android 17 (5) + Android 18 (4) = 14 DP
The Nintendo Switch version (released November 14, 2025) has some unique considerations:
S-tier characters typically possess one or more of these qualities: access to powerful defensive skills like Afterimage Strike, instant Sparking Mode abilities, transformation efficiency, or unique mechanics that break standard game balance. The current S-tier characters excel in multiple categories while having minimal weaknesses.
Bandai Namco releases balance patches approximately every 2-3 months. Major patches can significantly shift character viability, as seen with the September 2025 patch that removed health recovery on transformations and added permanent attack buffs. Always check the latest patch notes before committing to learning a new character.
Yes, these characters are universally banned in competitive tournaments due to their broken mechanics. Their Ki gauges don't diminish properly, allowing infinite resource usage, and their super armor ability makes them unfairly strong in melee combat. Most online communities also discourage their use in casual matches for better game balance.
Yajirobe (2 DP) is excellent for beginners due to his low cost and simple mechanics. While not top-tier, he can fill team slots efficiently and has a full heal ability that can save matches in clutch situations. For slightly more investment, Broly (Z) at 5 DP offers transformation potential into a top-tier character.
Transformation is extremely important in the current meta, especially after the September 2025 patch. While health recovery on transformation was removed, characters now receive permanent attack buffs when transforming using skill stocks. This makes transformation characters more valuable than ever for long-term team performance.
Characters that counter top-tier picks typically have:
For competitive play, focus on team building first. Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is primarily a team-based game where DP management and character synergy matter more than individual character strength. However, mastering 2-3 characters in different DP ranges will make you a more versatile player.
The Dragon Ball Sparking Zero meta continues to evolve with each balance patch. The September 2025 changes have created a more offensive environment where transformation characters shine and defensive tools require more skill to use effectively.
Looking forward, we expect:
For now, focus on mastering the S-tier characters while developing team-building skills that will remain valuable regardless of balance changes. The most successful players adapt to meta shifts while maintaining strong fundamental skills.
Stay tuned for updates as we'll continue to update this tier list with each new patch and tournament meta shift. Join our Discord community for real-time discussions and strategy sharing with fellow Sparking Zero enthusiasts!